Man of the House(90)

“I don’t know,” I said. “I’m pretty boring. I was going to school until I got pregnant. My family is pretty conservative, I guess, and they weren’t happy about it.”

She gave me a knowing smile. “I bet.”

“I didn’t know what else to do, so I ran here, hoped that Alexei’s father could help us.”

Nat nodded. “Vince is a good guy. Maybe he doesn’t seem like it on the surface, but deep down.”

“He can be an asshole.”

I couldn’t believe I had said that, but Nat just laughed.

“They all can, these men. They’re tough people, Kaley, but you know that. You grew up around mob people.”

“I did,” I said. “But you didn’t.”

“Go ahead, ask me.”

I bit my lip. “How’d you end up here?”

She laughed softly. “It’s a crazy story. I’ll tell it to you sometime, I promise. But believe me, I never in a million years thought I’d end up being the wife of a mobster.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“It’s totally okay.” She leaned back in her chair and looked over at the boys. They were blissfully staring at the television. “Truthfully, I just wanted to check up on you.”

“Why?” I asked her. “I don’t mean to be suspicious, but you’re very close to this family, you know.”

“Of course. Honestly, there aren’t a lot of mothers around here. Oh, how is Sonya working out?”

“She’s great,” I said. “Honestly. She speaks Russian too, which is nice.”

“Good. I thought you’d like her. She takes care of my boys a lot. I don’t know what I would have done without her.”

I raised an eyebrow and put that into the back of my mind. Sonya helped raise the grandsons of Arturo Barone. But that made sense, considering she had helped raise his son.

“Can I ask something else?” I said.

“Of course.”

“Do you think I made the right decision? Coming here, I mean. I’m safe, aren’t I?”

Nat nodded slowly. “They don’t hurt kids. They say a lot of things, but they don’t hurt children.”

“Okay.”

“As for whether you made the right decision, I don’t know. If Vince really is the father, I think he’ll step up and help you.”

“He is,” I said firmly.

“I believe you. I know it’s frustrating to be second-guessed, but you can understand. These men don’t take chances.”

“I know,” I said, sighing. “It’s still very frustrating.”

“Of course it is. But tell me, what do you want from Vince?”

I looked over at the window, staring outside. It was a beautiful day and the grounds were so green, just an ocean of blue and green stretching into the distance.

“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “I don’t know what I want from him. I’m not looking for a father, or maybe I am. I just want what’s best for Alex.”

“Of course,” Nat said softly. “It’s okay if you don’t know.”

“It would be good for Alexei to have a father, but I don’t know if Vince can handle that. I just need help right now until things settle down.”

“I understand.” She smiled at me and glanced at the television. “Listen, you should get going soon.”

“Oh, of course. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to babble on.”

“No, no. It’s just that the show is almost over. The monsters will be released.”

I laughed. I loved the way she talked about her kids, with such loving honesty. She called them monsters, but I could tell that she was a great mother, loving and kind and patient.

“I don’t mind,” I said.

“No. No need to subject you to that.” She stood up. “We’ll get together again soon. I want to meet your son.”

I stood. “Okay. I’d like that.”

She walked me to the door. Once there, she opened it. “Listen, Kaley,” she said softly. “Maybe you don’t believe it, but you have an ally in me. I think us women should stick together.”

I blinked at her, surprised. “I’m a stranger.”

“Yes, you are. But you’re a mother in need, and I’ll always help a mother in need.”

“Thank you.”

She nodded. “I don’t have much power, but I’ll do whatever I can for you.” She paused and then smiled. “And so will Lou, though she may not seem it. She’s more of a feminist than I am.”

I laughed. “That’s a surprise.”

“Come by again soon. Anytime, really.”